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Chester Place photographs
7070
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Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Title: Chester Place photographs
Identifier/Call Number: 7070
Physical Description:
1.17 linear feet.
1 box
Date: circa 1900
Abstract: 12 mounted photographs depicting Chester Place and the surrounding area. The photographs include streetscapes (of Chester
Place and Figueroa Street), lawns and gardens. Many of the photographs are identified only generally, but some can be positively
identified as no. 7 Chester Place, the home of Judge Charles Silent, the founder of Chester Place. Chester Place was founded
by Judge Silent in 1899, when he moved his family to the old home of real estate speculator Nathan Vail and extended a private
street through the middle of the property, from Adams to 23rd Street, and subdivided the land into 23 lots on either side
of the road. Chester Place was one of the first gated communities in Los Angeles. Among its residents were Estelle and Edward
Doheny, whose 24,000 square foot mansion soon became one of the most extravagant in the city. Today, Chester Place is part
of the campus of Mount St. Mary's University.
Container: 1
Chester Place was founded by Judge Charles Silent in 1899, when he moved his family to the old home of real estate speculator
Nathan Vail and extended a private street through the middle of the property, from Adams Bioulevard to 23rd Street, and subdivided
the land into 23 lots on either side of the road. Vail's property was originally surveyed by Henry Hancock (of Rancho La
Brea) in 1853; Hancock purchased this land for himself in 1855, and sold it to Vail in 1867. By the time Judge Silent purchased
the property, the area was growing increasingly popular, thanks to the streetcar line that connected Agricultural Park (present
day Exposition Park) to downtown. Chester Place was one of the first gated communities in Los Angeles. Among its residents
were Estelle and Edward Doheny, whose 24,000 square foot mansion soon became one of the most extravagant in the city. Today,
Chester Place is part of the campus of Mount St. Mary's University, thanks to the philanthropy of Estelle Doheny.
12 mounted photographs depicting Chester Place and the surrounding area. The photographs include streetscapes (of Chester
Place and Figueroa Street), lawns and gardens. Many of the photographs are identified only generally, but some can be positively
identified as no. 7 Chester Place, the home of Judge Charles Silent, the founder of Chester Place, and a veiw of Figueroa
Street with the Stimson House in the background.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
[Box/folder no. or item name], Chester Place photographs, Collection no. 7070, Regional History Collection, Special Collections,
USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Gardens -- California -- Los Angeles -- Photographs
Streets -- California -- Los Angeles -- Photographs
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- Photographs
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- Social life and customs -- Photographs
Photographs
Silent, Charles, -1918 -- Archives